exquisite

ex‧qui‧site /ɪkˈskwɪzət, ɪkˈskwɪzɪt, ˈekskwɪ-/ BrE AmE adjective
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: exquisitus, past participle of exquirere 'to search out', from quaerere 'to look for']
1. extremely beautiful and very delicately made:
the most exquisite craftsmanship
2. very sensitive and delicate in the way you behave or do things:
She has exquisite taste in art.
3. literary exquisite pain or pleasure is felt very strongly
—exquisitely adverb
—exquisiteness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
■ place/thing etc
▪ beautiful used to describe something that looks, feels, sounds etc so good that it gives you a lot of pleasure: a beautiful tropical beach | a beautiful song | The weather was beautiful.
▪ lovely especially British English spoken used when saying that something looks, feels, or sounds very nice: What a lovely day! | a lovely voice | a lovely perfume
▪ pretty pleasant to look at – often used about things that are not big or impressive: a pretty little pink dress | a pretty village
▪ attractive pleasant to look at. Attractive sounds more formal than pretty: an attractive white-painted cottage with green shutters | an attractive city
▪ magnificent very big, beautiful, and impressive – used about buildings, objects, and views: The Taj Mahal always looks magnificent. | a magnificent Persian carpet | There were magnificent views over the old city.
▪ picturesque written pleasant to look at – used in written descriptions of towns, buildings, and places: the picturesque harbour town of Castleton | Regensburg Cathedral occupies a picturesque position on the River Danube in Bavaria.
▪ stunning/breathtaking extremely beautiful and impressive – used especially about views: All around is a stunning view of Cape Town. | The landscape is breathtaking.
▪ exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzət, ɪkˈskwɪzɪt, ˈekskwɪ-/ used to describe things that have very beautiful small details, especially things that have been made with a lot of skill: an exquisite piece of jewellery | an exquisite flower | an exquisite picture of a bird of paradise
▪ elegant designed in a way that looks very attractive and has a lot of style: an elegant Neo-Classical building | a long and elegant staircase

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

exquisite

ex·quis·ite [ɪkˈskwɪzɪt] [ɪkˈskwɪzɪt] [ˈekskwɪzɪt] [ˈekskwɪzɪt] adjective
1. extremely beautiful or carefully made
• exquisite craftsmanship

• Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.

2. (formal) (of a feeling) strongly felt
Syn: acute

• exquisite pain/pleasure

3. (formal) delicate and sensitive
• The room was decorated in exquisite taste.
• an exquisite sense of timing
Derived Word: exquisitely
Word Origin:
[exquisite exquisitely] late Middle English (in the sense ‘precise’): from Latin exquisit- ‘sought out’, from the verb exquirere, from ex- ‘out’ + quaerere ‘seek’.
Example Bank:

• Look at the exquisite craftsmanship in this vase.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

exquisite / ɪkˈskwɪz.ɪt / adjective (BEAUTIFUL)

C2 very beautiful and delicate:

an exquisite piece of china

Look at this exquisite painting

She has exquisite taste.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

exquisite

[ɪkskwɪ̱zɪt, e̱kskwɪzɪt]
1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is exquisite is extremely beautiful or pleasant, especially in a delicate way.
  The Indians brought in exquisite beadwork to sell...
  Mr Zhang's photography is exquisite.
  ...her exquisite manners.
  Derived words:
  exquisitely ADV-GRADED usu ADV adj/-ed ...exquisitely crafted dolls' houses. ...an exquisitely beautiful young woman.
2) ADJ: ADJ n (emphasis) Exquisite is used to emphasize that a feeling or quality is very great or intense. [LITERARY]
  The words issuing from her lips gave exquisite pleasure as they flowed over him...
  She peeled it with exquisite care.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

exquisite

ex·quis·ite /ɛkˈskwɪzət, ˈɛkskwɪzət/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : finely done or made
• exquisite workmanship
• a move executed with exquisite precision : very beautiful or delicate
• exquisite flowers
• Her singing voice is truly exquisite.
2 : very sensitive or fine
• They have exquisite [=excellent] taste in furniture.
• The scenes are described in exquisite detail. [=with a lot of very fine details]
3 : extreme or intense
• exquisite pain/agony
• He chose his words with exquisite care.